Pollution must be cut now

There are few people who now doubt that climate change is happening, or that our over-use of fossil fuel is a major part of the cause.

Friends of the Earth, as a founding member of the I-count campaign, has helped to get a climate change bill into the Queen's speech.

The next step is to make sure that the bill has the necessary teeth. FoE is calling for three per cent reduction in carbon dioxide production, year-on-year.

At this level, changes can be relatively small, but will add up over the years.

The longer we wait to start changes, the greater the changes will need to be. We have to make sure the bill has measurable targets, with strategies in place to recover any slippage.

We would like people to support our effort by writing to their MP, urging them to vote for measurable reductions when the bill is debated.

However, we don't have to wait for the bill.

We can all make changes to our own lifestyles, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions - and to save money!

Insulation of houses, turning the heating down slightly and use of low energy light bulbs will go a long way towards our targets, as will the expansion of alternative energy production.

We live in a county that produces some wonderful food - buying local food is good for our local economy, and cuts down transport damage.

If your readers would like to know more (and Oxfam, CPRE, WI, RSPB, Unison, Wildlife Trust, WWF, Woodland Trust, WDM and Garden Organic all support I-count) they can go to www.foe.co.uk/climateon

line or www.i-count.org.uk

Val Oldaker, Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth